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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) The Panthers have signed first-round draft pick Vernon Butler, a defensive tackle from Louisiana Tech.
Terms of the deal were not immediately available on Friday.
Butler was the last of Carolina's five draft picks to sign a contract.
Butler said before rookie minicamp that he was excited to have the contract done and out of the way so he could concentrate on football.
The 6-foot-4, 323-pound Butler is expected to be in a rotation behind starting defensive tackles Kawann Short and Star Lotulelei.
He amassed 170 tackles, including 29.5 for loss and five sacks in his college career, showing a blend of size and speed. Butler said he is just scratching the surface of his potential.
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Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFL
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